WL 220--INTRODUCTION TO WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES

                                                  Fall 2007; M, W, F; 8:00-8:50 a.m.; SDM 100

Instructors:  Dr. D.W. Willis and Dr. J.A. Jenks, instructors of record. Offices in SNP 141c (DWW) and SNP 142b (JAJ); phone: 688-6121; email: David.Willis@sdstate.edu; Jonathan.Jenks@sdstate.edu

Text:  Scalet, C.G., L.D. Flake, and D.W. Willis.  1996.  Introduction to wildlife and fisheries: an integrated

     approach.  W.H. Freeman Co., New York.

Course Description:  An introduction to the basic principles used in the management of wildlife and fish populations, their habitats, and their human users.  The course is directed toward the presentation of general concepts that are integral to understanding the discipline.  Because our intent is to provide you with an overview of the wildlife and fisheries professions, various lectures will be presented by faculty members and Ph.D. students who have expertise in each topic.  Thus, you will get a chance to know the faculty members in the Department during the course of the semester.    

Prerequisites:  None.

Course Format:  This course is delivered in a traditional lecture format.

Course Objectives: To introduce the student to the fundamental concepts and principles of the management of

     wildlife and fisheries resources.  In that light, the student will gain factual knowledge and learn fundamental

     principles and theories that are needed in the fisheries and wildlife management professions.

Tentative course outline

Final Exam:  Wednesday, Dec. 19, 9:00-10:40 am

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that students read each chapter in the textbook PRIOR TO the lectures that cover that chapter.  The chapters cover much more material than we can discuss in the course, and it is essential that you be prepared to ask questions on topics that you do not understand.  Subsequent classes in the major will build upon the base of knowledge you learn in this class.

Attendance Policy:  Attendance will not be required.  However, you will be responsible for all lecture material, text assignments, and videos presented in the course.  Therefore, the best way to keep tabs on these materials is to come to class!

Tests:  Tests will consist of a mixture of multiple-choice, true-false, and short-answer questions.  All four exams will be worth 100 points each.  Make-up exams are discouraged, but will be allowed if the student has a valid excuse and notifies the instructor or the Department secretary before the scheduled test.  Make-up exams will consist of essay questions.

Grading:  Grading will be "straight scaled."  The scale is listed below.  Only by attaining these percentages can you be assured of receiving a desired grade.

90 - 100%  (360-400 points)  = A

80 -  89%  (320-359 points)  = B

70 -  79%  (280-319 points)  = C

60 -  69%  (240-279 points)  = D

   <  60%   (<240 points)      = F

Case study:  Toward the end of the semester (Dec. 10), you will be asked to complete one case study (a short thinking and writing exercise).  You will be required to work independently on this exercise.  If you complete the exercise by the deadline and the final result is judged satisfactory by the instructor (i.e., Willis), you will be eligible for “rounding up” of your final grade.  Anyone who is within 0.5% of the next letter grade will be rounded upward to that higher grade if the case study was completed satisfactorily and on time.

Lecture Outlines:  Many of your lectures will be delivered using PowerPoint visuals.  Such lectures will be posted prior to class time on the Department’s home page at http://wfs.sdstate.edu.  Once at the home page, click on “Undergraduate Courses” and then on this course’s title (i.e., WL 220).  From there merely click on the hot links to get a PDF file of the lecture notes (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view these notes).  We again stress that you need to attend class to fill in the “details’ of these lecture outlines.

Netiquette: We ask for your courtesy during this class.  Please turn off cell phones – no calls or texting.  Please turn off laptops – no emails, net surfing, or other internet activities.  Let’s be courteous to our guest speakers throughout the semester by listening to them, rather than being distracted by other activities.

Academic Freedom and Responsibility:  Freedom in learning. Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should first contact the instructor of the course. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/or dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Students with Disabilities: Students are entitled to ‘reasonable accommodations’ under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Those in need of such accommodation should notify the instructor and make appropriate arrangements with the SDSU Office of Disabilities Services (145 Binnewies Hall, 688-4504 or 688-4032 TTD).

Academic Dishonesty (cheating):  All students enrolled in this course are subject to the provisions of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Academic Dishonesty Policy as follows:

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Academic Dishonesty Policy (Revised Nov. 2000)

            The Department and the University have taken a strong and clear stand regarding academic dishonesty.  We believe that it is unethical and unprofessional to present work done by others in a manner indicating that the student/s is/are presenting material as his/her original ideas or work; such activity is academic dishonesty.  Plagiarizing or knowingly assisting others in plagiarizing on tests, quizzes, problems, assignments, research papers, theses, dissertations, or other academic activities is unacceptable behavior.  All academic work completed by students is expected to be the original work of that individual student, unless permission is specifically granted beforehand by the faculty member for some form of team effort or other format.  If students are unsure if a particular activity may be regarded as a form of academic dishonesty they should consult the faculty member before undertaking such an activity.

            The University has a policy on academic honesty, procedures for academic grade and dishonesty appeals, and sanctions for such activities (see Student Code).  The Student Code has different procedures for undergraduate and graduate students.

 

The Department policy described in this handout is intended to attempt to address perceived academic dishonesty violations between the faculty member/s and student/s before Student Code procedures are implemented.  This is done because under Student Code procedures the minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is Disciplinary Probation.  These added Department steps (Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the Undergraduate Student and Graduate Student Procedures) should not be construed as an attempt to circumvent the Student Code system; both students and/or the faculty member have the option to go directly into that system.  The Department procedures portion of this policy is only available to a student one time; any second perceived offense will immediately follow the Student Code procedures.

Undergraduate Student Procedure

1.                   When a student/s is/are determined to have broken the Academic Dishonesty Policy, he/she will be notified verbally by the faculty member involved as to the problem and sanction selected.  This is similar to procedures 02:02:01:03 and 02:02:01:04 in the Student Code.  The faculty member will do this immediately after the perceived violation occurs.  Sanction options available to the faculty member are as follows:

a.                   provide the student/s a grade of zero or some other score on the test, quiz, problem, assignment, or other academic endeavor involved;

b.                   provide the student/s a grade of “F” in the course;

c.                   request that the student/s withdraw from the course;

d.                   request that the student/s change the grading for the course to an “audit”; or

e.                   immediately refer the case to the Student Code procedures.

The sanction selected is at the discretion of the faculty member, based on the seriousness of the situation.

2.                   If the student/s agrees to the sanction proposed by the faculty member the process is completed.

3.                   If the student/s does not agree to the sanction proposed by the faculty member, he/she has the right to appeal the faculty member’s decision.  This Informal Phase Appeal should be made directly (both verbally and in writing) to the faculty member involved within 5 class days of notification or within 7 calendar days of notification, if the incident is at the end of the semester.  The faculty member may then modify or leave unchanged the sanction proposed in step 1.  A copy of the student’s written appeal and the faculty member’s written response will be sent to the Department Head so that a confidential record to protect the student/s and the faculty member is established.  The student/s written appeal and faculty member written response will be secured in the student’s file until graduation or he/she leaves the program; if no further perceived violations have occurred these materials will be purged from the student’s file.

4.                   If the student/s is/are still dissatisfied with the decision he/she can appeal to the Department Head.  This Informal Phase Appeal should be made verbally.  The Department Head will utilize this verbal appeal and the written student appeal and faculty written response described in step 3 to reach a decision.  (These are steps 02:02:01:05, 02:02:01:06, and 02:02:01:07 in the Informal Phase Appeal process described in the Student Code).

5.                   If the student/s and faculty member agree with the Department Head’s decision, the process is completed.  Up to this point, no one other than the student/s, faculty member, and Department Head has been made aware of the situation.

6.                   If the student/s or faculty member is/are dissatisfied with the Department Head’s decision they can enter the Formal Phase of the Student Code process (Student Code 02:02:02).  It is the responsibility of the faculty member and student/s to be aware of the procedures and penalties involved.